Foreigners and politics

[Matilda]

I wil l not go into toomuch detail but suffice it to say my husband may shortly be more invoved in political activity. This latest amendment to the constitution has been brought to my attention

Asamblea aprueba que extranjeros no podrán participar en política - DiarioLibre.com

This states that foreigners may not be involved in political activity.

What I would like to know is what exactly does this mean?

1. I assume you are a foreigner even if you have a cedula and residency (cedula does say extranjero on the back!!)

2. Can I attend political functions? Dinners, rallies, fund raisings?

3. Can I wave a flag?

4. I assume I cannot speak at them??

5. Can I accompany my husband on political events overseas?

All help and advice welcomed.

Matilda

[Lambada]

It hasn't been signed into law yet has it, just approved by the Chamber?

When I first saw this about 10 days ago I assumed that reference to the Libro de Extranjería was geared to the Haitian population but I see some readers' letters in some online publications are suggesting this includes Dominicans with American citizenship....odd because they still have Dominican citizenship, I thought.

My guess is it means foreigners can't run for elective office, but let's see what Dr.Guzman says.

I suppose you could always become a Dominican citizen without too many problems, Matilda?

[Matilda]

Could become a Dominican Citizen - but time consuming and a tad expensive last time I looked. I thought maybe in meant you couldn't run for political office nor vote, but it is a bit ambiguous - cannot participate seems a bit broader to me.

[Chirimoya]

I know of a couple of foreigners involved in political campaigning, on the technical rather than public side. I don't know if this will have to change, I'm going to ask around.

[Conchman]

I am pretty sure it means they cannot run for public office.

[cobraboy]

Originally Posted by Conchman

I am pretty sure it means they cannot run for public office.

Well, just damn!



There goes my "get rich quick" scheme.

I figgered $200,000 in free beer would "earn" me a $1,000,000 gubmint job and a new turbo-diesel Prado...

[Matilda]

Originally Posted by Conchman

I am pretty sure it means they cannot run for public office.

Well foreigners never could run for public office, and even if you become a citizen although you can hold government jobs you can never be President!! But given that that was already the law, why a new one saying you cannot 'participar en politica'?

Matilda

[tflea]

Without citizenship one can't vote, and if one can't vote, one can't hold public office; just like most other countries.
I don't see any advantage to have dual citizenship, per se, in this country,. in most cases, for foreigners.
Anyone see an advantage to being a dual-national here, in the DR?
Totally open to informed opinions on the subject.
Maybe some children's issues or some such?

[suarezn]

In practice what it probably means is that a foreigner cannot hold a public office, but they left it vague enough (I'm sure on purpose) that if a foreigner starts making waves (i.e. Matilda starts raising tons of funds and starts cutting into Leonel's or MVM's share of the pie) they could exercise the right to deport that citizen for being "involved in politics".

[minerva_feliz]

Wow, gotta love those purposefully vague constitutional ammendments!

I assume it only means voting and running for office. Which is disappointing because I've considered how interesting and fun it would be to run for Sindica of a small town.

The other day as I was watching tv with Dominican friends, who are used to hearing my oh-so-informed and in-depth analisis of political and social issues here, when I jokingly said I should call up the tv show like others were doing to comment on the brawl that happened during some official transition of leadership of an organization of lawyers. They were all like 'NO, you don't have the right to comment on Dominican politics on the air! It wouldn't be right!' I was shocked, first I was like sorry, didn't know I was in Cuba thought you had some kind of free speech deal here, and second then why do I hear so many Dominicans here and in the U.S. ranting or raving about my government and elected officials?

So given that sentiment, would a change really mean that foreigners can't be involved in politics AT ALL, like attending events or expressing opinions?